Dig it: this is the JCB limited edition version of the Motorola Defy+ rugged Android smart phone, with built-in apps for builders.
The Defy+, follow-up to the Motorola Defy, is water-resistant, scratch-resistant and dust-proof, sporting a 3.7-inch scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass screen.
The limited-edition digger-branded JCB Defy+ is aimed at builders and engineers, or anyone who works outdoors or in demanding conditions, thanks to a “patented visco-elastic protective sleeve” with “re-entrant geometry”. We don’t know what that means because we’re not ‘ard enough.
Sturdy it may be, but the Defy is quite a dinky thing, so won’t be ideal when wearing work gloves.
As well as the rugged exterior, there’s a selection of roughty-toughty JCB apps on board too. They include a spirit level, a decibel meter and recorder, and a unit converter. There’s an app to help you find your nearest DIY store to stock up on parts.
And it’s even got a theodolite, which won’t be much use to most people but is fun to say. Theodolite. Theodolite. Theodolite.
The digger Defy+ includes Push To Talk to operate as a walkie-talkie when you’re on site, with group talking and messaging options. Inside is a 1GHz processor running Android 2.3 Gingerbread. On the front is a 5-megapixel camera with auto focus and flash.
Moto also announced this month a smaller version of the Defy, the Motorola Defy Mini, alongside the Motorola Motoluxe. Google is in the process of buying the American mobile maker for £7.8bn.
The Motorola Defy+ JCB comes with a car charger with an extra long curly cable. It’s holding up the bypass now for £260.